RESIDENTS hope proposals to build a massive housing development in their village could solve an age-old problem.

The borough council has announced it wants to set aside land near Chapel Street in Wincham for a 600-home urban village, similar to that due to be built at Winnington.

But while residents have campaigned vociferously against the Winnington urban village, people living in Wincham say they believe this scheme could solve longstanding problems caused by HGV traffic tearing through the centre of their village.

The Wincham Action Group formed five years ago in response to problems caused by the expansion of Wincham Industrial Estate on to Wincham Lane in the 1980s and 90s, increasing the volume of HGV traffic using the residential Chapel Street.

WAG wants to close off the residential area to HGV traffic, but it has so far only been able to get a one-way weight restriction imposed.

Residents are now hoping cash contributions from developers of the urban village could pay for a road to be built directly on to New Warrington Road, relieving the congestion on Chapel Street.

They say money could also pay for a turning circle on Wincham Lane, enabling the exclusion of HGVs from the residential area.

Borough councillor Ann McEllin has been working to get the urban village proposal off the ground and believes the only long-term solution to the traffic problems is to separate the residential and industrial areas by allowing houses to be built to the west of the canal bridge, behind Chapel Street, and by moving the heavier industry to the other side of the canal.

She said: 'Cllr Michael Fellows and I proposed the Lower Wincham site in order to secure the opportunity for the HGV problem to be sorted out. In bald terms, it's a choice between HGVs or housing.'

Questionnaires have been sent out to residents and a public exhibition was held on Monday night to gauge opinion.

Cllr McEllin added: 'If Wincham residents choose not to go with the housing development, there are plenty of other sites in sustainable locations in the borough which can come forward for housing instead. However, the land behind Chapel Street would remain allocated for employment, as it is at the moment, so their HGV woes could get worse.'

Residents are urged to send their views to Vale Royal Borough Council by Wednesday, March 10.